Zenith

ICT4D Week 2018

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Ofcom shuts door on 2014 sale of Premier League rights investigations

The
United Kingdom (UK) Office of Communications (Ofcom) has shut its doors on the
investigation of the 2014 into the sale of rights to the Premier League, ITRealms
reports.

ITRealms notes that an investigation was launched in November 2014 following a complaint
by Virgin Media that the then process was causing consumer harm, a move that
was welcomed by the chief executive officer, Tom Mockridge.

“Football fans
will now be able to watch more live action on TV. As the only TV provider
to offer all the available games, we are pleased that after a two-year campaign
the Premier League has agreed to offer more TV games,” he said.

This, Ofcom said
was relied upon the account of the Premier League’s recent decision to increase
the number of matches available for live broadcast in the UK, to a minimum of
190 per season from the start of the 2019/20 season.

“This
is 22 more matches per season than were included in the Premier League’s 2015
auction,” Ofcom said.

ITRealms also reports
that Sky Sports has held rights to the Premier League since its launch in 1992
and following the intervention of the European Commission in 2006 a second
rights holder has been brought in; initially Setanta and then ESPN, and
currently BT Sport.